Hirnhautentzündung
feminine
Meningitis in German is translated as Hirnhautentzündung. Wiktionary also lists Meningitis.
Meaning: inflammation of the meninges (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | Note |
|---|---|
| Hirnhautentzündung | feminine |
| Meningitis | feminine |
The term refers to the inflammation of the meninges.
What does it mean word for word?
Hirnhautentzündung is a compound noun made up of Hirn (brain), Haut (skin or membrane) and Entzündung (inflammation).
Which one should you use?
Hirnhautentzündung is the standard term used by the general public and doctors alike. In contrast, Meningitis is a technical Latin-based term used primarily in medical contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Hirnhautentzündung is a feminine noun, meaning it takes the feminine article die in the nominative case.
Did you know?
- The concept of 'inflammation' in German, Entzündung, shares a conceptual root with the idea of 'kindling' a fire.
- While Hirnhautentzündung means 'brain skin inflammation', the word Haut is used for everything from human skin to the peel of an apple or the casing of a sausage.
- In German, Hirnhaut literally translates to 'brain skin', reflecting a historical linguistic tendency to name internal membranes based on their resemblance to external skin.
Examples in context
- In der Klinik wurde bei dem Patienten Meningitis diagnostiziert.Meningitis was diagnosed in the patient at the hospital.
- Mein Freund hatte vor kurzem eine Gehirnhautentzündung.My friend recently had meningitis.
- Er leidet an einer Hirnhautentzündung.He is suffering from meningitis.
- Die Symptome einer Hirnhautentzündung sind oft schwer zu erkennen.The symptoms of meningitis are often hard to recognize.
Example conversation
A hospital waiting room where two friends are talking.
- LauraHat der Arzt eine Diagnose gestellt?Has the doctor made a diagnosis?
- LukasJa, es ist eine Hirnhautentzündung.Yes, it is meningitis.
- LauraDas ist eine schlimme Nachricht für ihn.That is bad news for him.
- LukasJa, wir müssen jetzt abwarten.Yes, we have to wait now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meningitis” translations and entries Hirnhautentzündung, Meningitis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Hirnhautentzündung, CC BY-SA 4.0.
